A Ghanaian national, Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, appeared before the Gbese District Court in Accra on December 23, 2025, amid heavy security, following his arrest for allegedly masterminding an $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans.
The scam, which saw victims defrauded of millions of dollars, has made headlines across the globe due to the scale of the operation and the involvement of U.S. federal authorities.
Kumi, 34, was arrested on December 11, 2025, after a joint operation between Ghanaian authorities and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
He faces charges of wire fraud and money laundering in the United States.
The federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio has indicted Kumi for allegedly defrauding vulnerable elderly individuals through a series of deceptive online romance schemes since 2023.